Hypospadias and Exome: Identification of New Genes for Familial Hypospadias

Hypospadias is the second most common malformation of the male genitalia and consists in a congenital hypoplasia of its ventral face. Hypospadias results from abnormal development of the penis that leaves the urethral meatus proximal to its normal glanular position. Meatus position may be located anywhere along the penile shaft, but more severe forms of hypospadias may have a urethral meatus located at the scrotum or perineum. Glandular and penile anterior represents approximately 70% of all the diagnosed cases.

The frequency of family reached depend on the severity of hypospadias. The number of children which have hypospadias mutation discovered by classical technique is low. Families are often the cause of the discovery of new genes involved in sexual differentiation because they allow comparison of genomes of related persons, and detect more easily mutations.